title: Combined spectrophotometry and tensile measurements of human connective tissues: potentials and limitations.
abstract: Strain-dependent transmission data of nine iliotibial tract specimens are determined using a custom-built optical setup with a halogen light source and an industrial norm material testing machine. Polarized light microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining indicated that lateral contraction of collagen structures is responsible for total intensity variations during a 20-cycle preconditioning and a 5-cycle tensile test. Tensile force progress is opposite to total transmission progress. Due to dehydration, wavelength-specific radiation intensity shifting is determined during the test, primarily noticeable in a water absorption band between 1400 and 1500 nm. The results show the capability of integrating spectrophotometry technology into biomechanics for determining structural alterations of human collagen due to applied strain. Being more sensitive to drying, spectrophotometry may likely serve as a quality control in stress-strain testing of biological structures.
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences, Applied Physics and Computer Science, Westsaechsische Hochschule Zwickau, 08056 Zwickau, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernstberger
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sichting
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baselt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aust
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006219:Halogens / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011786:Quality Control; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D006219:Halogens; D003094:Collagen